Broken Chairs

You are not a woodworker
and so it is trial and error,
a few steps back from time to time
in order to move forward.

But the alternative
is to let the chair die,
become kindling,
and end up consumed,
it’s workmanship lost forever,

and something in you will not allow that.
And so you take it,
one small step at a time,
Glue. Clamps. Filler.
a bit of carving.

And when it is done
it will not be perfect,
but it will be saved,
and it will have a story
shared.

About this poem

Furniture. Lives. All need repair and restoration now and again.

The picture is of a chair in my project room that is near finished. It’s not been easy, but it will be beautiful when it’s complete.

Tom